Yeovil began the new year the same way they ended the old one when they slumped to a two goal away defeat, this time at a chilly Leyton Orient tonight.

A goal in each half from Tamika Mkandawire and Scott McGleish moved the O's up three places and out of the relegation zone while condemning the Glovers to another fruitless away trip.

Manager Terry Skiverton made four changes to the side that lost to Swindon three weeks ago. Terrell Forbes and Sam Williams were suspended while the loaned-out Richard Martin wasn't available either.

Nathan Smith and Gavin Tomlin were also dropped from the starting eleven although both made the bench. Alex McCarthy returned after his virus between the sticks and Shaun MacDonald made his first appearance after returning for his third loan spell at Huish Park.

Leyton Orient had the first sight of goal within ninety seconds when Ryan Jarvis volleyed wide after being set up by a Scott McGleish knockdown.

The Glovers tested home keeper Jamie Jones on six minutes when the gloveman saved Stefan Stam's header from a Craig Alcock free kick.

Tamika Makndawire was looking impressive for the hosts and Shaun MacDonald had to act smartly to block the ex-Hereford defender's attempt on goal on eleven minutes.

Three minutes later and the same player gave the O's the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances. His left foot shot thudded against the post, rolled along the goal line hitting the other post then rolling agonsiingly over the line.

This injected new life into Orient and they forced two quick corners before Nicky Adams came within a whisker of doubling the lead. Good build up play between Charlie Daniels, Jarvis and Jason Demetriou teed the ball up for Adams and his snap shot was brilliantly cleared off the line by Craig Alcock.

Yeovil started to come back more into the game and the next ten minutes saw Jonathan Obika and MacDonald shoot tamely at Jones. As the first half closed, Jean-Paul Kalala and Keiran Murtagh also saw shots fail to bother the home keeper.

The Glovers came out stronger after their half time cuppa and Ryan Mason fired a shot wide in the opening moments. The O's replied with an Adam Chambers effort that was smothered by McCarthy.

MacDonald curled a precise pass to Murtagh but the ex-Charlton midfielder failed by inches to reach the ball with only the keeper to round.

Yeovil made their first change shortly after when Murtagh was replaced by his former Fisher team mate Gavin Tomlin.

Midway through the half, the game nroke up somewhat and the Glovers earned two bookings; the culprits being Kalala and Nathan Jones. Yeovil still were ahead on points though and the home crowd were getting restless as the O's were forced to hoof clear when under pressure.

With fifteen minutes left, Orient manager Geraint Williams brought on new French signing Jonathan Tehoue and his introduction sparked new life into both his team mates and the 2,669 crowd.

Within four minutes, the second killer goal arrived. A corner from the right flank was met by McGleish and his header was too hot for McCarthy to hold and in it went.

Terry Skiverton responded by withdrawing the on-loan Spurs duo of Mason and Obika and throwing on two wingers in Andy Welsh and Scott Murray but the last ten minutes ended even steven with a couple of half chances for each side, the best of which saw Tehoue run from the halfway line, take aim but pull his shot wide of the far post.

Four minutes of stoppage time passed without concern for either team leaving Skiverton with plenty to think about as the games come thick and fast in the second half of the season.